The skies over Kuoh had become a battlefield. Armoured figures clashing far above the residents over and over again, so distant as to be inexplicable flashes of magenta and blue. It was safer that way. A deliberate choice Kallen had made both for convenience and practicality. Not just because the clean-up would be far easier, requiring far less hypnosis of unaware humans to cover things up. But also because of how she had discovered Vali's, or rather Albion's, abilities worked.

"BOOST!"

She hadn't intended to use her Sacred Gear's most signature ability so early in the fight. Unfortunately, she hadn't been given a choice. She struck, over and over again. She was stronger than Vali, but he was faster. Much more used to aerial combat than she was and thus able to outmanoeuvre her seven times out of ten. Her other side, her Kozuki side, would have been able to fare much better. Unfortunately, she was preoccupied. And so she would clash with him, attempting to score worthwhile hits. And with each attempt, success or failure–

"DIVIDE!"

"Tch!"

"BOOST!"

"Isn't it thrilling, Red Dragon Empress?!" Vali goaded, his grin audible in his words. "This is the way it is! The way it has to be! You exist to build yourself up, while I will cut you down again to surpass you! Both of us climbing higher and higher until one of us reaches their limit! One of us breaks!" The white dragon screamed toward her, an uppercut that she evaded being joined by a rising knee.

"DIVIDE!"

"BOOST!"

"Unless you keep holding back," he warned, only feet away, until he leapt back to avoid the one thing he was afraid of. The claw of her right hand. He turned, looked away for a half instant. "That's the nature of Boosted Gear. You grow and grow, while I take and take. If you don't grow faster than I do, this is already over."

"He's right," Ddraig warned inside her mind. "You're slowing down. Well, more like he's getting faster. Every time he cuts your power he takes it for himself."

"I have a limit." There was a point where she would hit her peak ability. The most her body would be able to take without completely crippling her stamina. If she tried to push past it, it wouldn't be long until she'd reset back to nothing. "Does he?"

"Not the same way. If he gets too powerful, the excess is expelled from his wings, letting him sit at his peak performance." Kallen took the imprisoned dragon's information on board, examining the luminescent blue wings of her opponent. "Yeah, he's not there yet. I'd bet not even close, because you're playing this with kid gloves."

"I have to help Lelouch after this! I can't afford to–!"

"You can't afford to underestimate the white one!" Ddraig shot back at her before she could even finish. "Every generation we're destined to fight! He's your equal! Treating him as anything else will get you killed!"

"Stadtfeld," her other half said in her mind, sounding distracted. "You wanted to finish this fight, so finish it."

It was frustrating, but they had been proven right multiple times already. She sighed out loud. "Stuff it then."

"BOOSTBOOSTBOOSTBOOSTBOOST!"

Five. Five was stable.

"He'll just cut it down again when you get close."

"I know." She raised her left arm as the armoured hand opened out into a cannon. "Good job I'm not only good in a scrap, eh?"

"Screw you, I can shoot just fine," Kozuki grumbled.

The cannon glowed brightly, before launching an orb of demonic and draconic power at the white dragon. Fired like a cannonball, it knocked Kallen backward from the force of it. The short distance between the two dragons giving Vali very little time to dodge.

Yet the charge time gave him ample opportunity to prepare. "Yes! YES!" Even with that time he could only ensure it didn't hit head on. Instead it clipped him, warping and scorching the pristine white armour. "MORE!" He raced toward her again, not even hesitating from what was almost certainly a near death experience. And that mad battle lust, that singular focus on victory, was what allowed him to close that short distance while Kallen was stationary.

Her clawed arm came up. He caught it just barely in time, knowing what she would try with such a sudden and overwhelming power advantage.

"DIVIDE! DIVIDE!"

"BOOST! BOOST!"

He looked left and right, laughing as he forced her away., his wings glowing so much brighter than they were before. "YES! This is what I was hoping for!" He rocketed upward to swoop down toward her again. "The moment I knew you existed I had to know everything about you! Your military service, the fight with that devil Queen, the Rating Game, I watched it all so many times! I was so glad to know my destined rival has the same fighting spirit that I do! And what a fantastic ass!"

She could hear Ddraig chortling in her head.

"I wanted to know everything, preparing for this moment! And it's everything I was hoping for!"

Once again, he focused on neutralising her claw as their armoured forms clashed.

"DIVIDE!"

"BOOST!"

"Are you having as much fun as I am?!"

-(-)-

The school courtyard was the site of a tense stand-off. Tense not just because of the danger of it, but because of how the dangerous enemy on their doorstep was seeming almost amicable now that he had their attention. Well... Maybe not really amicable. He was still a threat, still being threatening. He was just singing a song about how he was going to chop up all the devils while swinging the closest thing to the restored Excalibur to exist in over a thousand years like he were an extra in a sentai show. Twirling the misshapen sword in one hand while thrusting his hips before tossing it to the other hand.

"Gonna chop! You! Up! With my ho-ly-sword! Gonna fuck! Your! Cunts! With my ho-ly-sword! Gonna fuck ya! Yeah! Yeah! I'm gonna fuck ya!"

"I'm embarrassed to even be witness to this," Sona spoke with revulsion and mild despair. "If that ends up killing me, I'd rather have never been born."

"Do you mean the sword, or–?"

The devil heiress looked at the chestnut-haired exorcist, and answered flatly, "No. I do not mean the sword."

"Don't look so glum, devil whores and nunsluts!" Freed exclaimed as he walked right up to the barrier, tapping away at it with the fused Excalibur. "And also the worthless penis havers," he added on paying a little more attention to realise there were three men present inside. "This doesn't have to end in sexy, sexy bloodshed! If you want, we can make this way easier! Give me Excalibur Mimic and I'll let most of you live and only rape one or two of you! See? I can negotiate!" The madman grinned in an almost friendly way, like his deranged mind thought it was a generous or reasonable offer. "Oh, and the disarmed nunslut too! I promised to fuck her later and I never go back on my word! That's my exorcist way!"

"Huh!" Rias scoffed, folding her arms under her bust. "Well now I just want to kill him more."

Akeno giggled, despite the situation and the threats. "Is that because he's annoying, the threats of rape and murder, or because someone like him quoted your favourite manga?"

Her King chose to ignore the question. And it wasn't her favourite anymore anyway. "We wouldn't make such a deal and someone like you wouldn't honour it."

"Then perhaps a more measured negotiator is called for?"

From around one of the buildings beyond the front gate of the school came a man clothed in white vestments that marked a high ranking member of the clergy. A small, split moustache marked his face, as did a pair of circular-framed glasses. His smile was polite, even beneficent. Like he truly was still a man of the cloth looking to do God's work. Or at least, he believed he was.

"May I ask, do you all realise what you bear witness to? What you're a part of?" the newcomer asked, his arms spread wide as if in praise for a miracle, before gesturing at the swords Freed Sellzen was still presenting as an extension of his penis. "This is a marvel, a miracle, borne of decades of work! Of painstaking research! All to reforge the most holy of relics! The most wondrous of weapons! The legendary Excalibur! It is so close at hand, isn't that a noble goal worthy of a little sacrifice?!"

"YOU!" Kiba's shout preceded two malevolent blades rising out of the ground to be snatched into his hands.

"Who is he?" Lelouch asked.

"Valper Galilei," Xenovia answered, her face turning pale. "The Genocide Archbishop, excommunicated from the church for his research methods that killed thousands of children."

The former archbishop didn't refute the description or even protest the judgement. Instead, he focused entirely on the young man near frothing at the mouth. "Ah! Hello, Isaiah. I'm surprised you survived, but seeing as you're a devil now I suppose you didn't. A shame. You used to be such a good Christian boy. Why, I remember you prayed every single day."

"To save us all from monsters like you!"

Valper's smile turned patronising. "Come now. No you didn't. You understood what it was all for. All of you did. Sometimes a little suffering is necessary to achieve great things, and you were all too willing to bear the pain. You and all the other subjects knew if you endured you would accomplish great things. And you did!" From within his vestments, he pulled out a small blue gem.

"They weren't subjects! They were my friends, you–!" Kiba's words stopped short, his eyes focused entirely on the little gem. Like he understood immediately what it was.

"Magnificent, isn't it? The distilled essence of what it takes to wield a holy sword! The church might have disavowed my work but they were certainly eager to reap the benefits of it! Isn't that right, Sister Irina?"

The named exorcist wore a look of shame. She of course knew his claims were accurate. She wasn't originally capable of wielding an Excalibur. Only a ceremony to infuse her with the holy element gave her that ability. Something only possible thanks to Galilei's research.

"And now," the disgraced archbishop continued with glee. "Even more! The reforging of a legend! My life's work! Four pieces with only three left to find!" His almost manic giddiness seemed to stutter out of him, hinting at just how unhinged he truly was. "Let me make it clear. Freed."

"Yes, Daddy?"

"You will follow my orders without question."

The stray exorcist nodded vigorously. "Okay, Daddy! I'll be a good boy!"

Valper nodded more serenely, much more certain of that confirmation than anyone within the barrier. "Devils. I do not care about you. Not in the slightest." He paused. "Well, meeting Isaiah again was a treat, but not outside of that. The only thing I want is Excalibur Mimic. Simply hand it over, and your part in this will be done."

It was a much more fair offer. Yet also one that no one would take seriously. Taking the word of a mass murderer of children, assuming the archbishop actually had any control over Freed, or even accepting the terms of giving an enemy an even more potent weapon to use against them in the future. None of it was acceptable. Valper must have been hoping fear or stupidity would sway them to make the foolish decision.

Lelouch knew, neither Rias nor Sona were stupid, nor were they cowards. This would end in combat no matter what.

"First," Lelouch said as he stepped forward, his hand passing across his face to splay outward to his side. "Answer my questions!"

"Of course," the archbishop agreed.

"Who are you really working for?"

Galilei remained placid as he answered honestly and completely. "Myself. Though Kokabiel of the Grigori supports my efforts."

Lelouch was stunned. Just the Grigori? Just the one obvious superior with no interlocking piece to the conspiracy he had been agonising over for years? "Who else do you work with? Who are your collaborators?!"

The man rattled off a short list of figures of importance to the various church denominations. Archbishop DeLancé among them, confirming Xenovia and Irina had been led into a trap.

Yet... Still, no one else?! Just the fallen and some church collaborators?! That was impossible! There has to be more! "How about the White Dragon Emperor?! Is he with you?!"

"Vali Lucifer is Azazel's ward. He has nothing to do with us."

So the White Dragon Emperor, for whom he now had a name, was working for Azazel. That was interesting, but still not the information he needed! Had he been wrong this entire time? Seeing connections that weren't there?

Freed looked at the archbishop. "Uhh... What just happened?"

Valper returned his look, confused at his confusion. "... What?"

Meanwhile, as the two weren't paying attention, Sona whispered to her fiancé. "Have Anastasia stop supporting the barrier."

Lelouch glanced at her, gave a small nod, and relayed the message. Unnoticed by the two formerly holy men, the barrier protecting the school lost its crystalline sheen.

"We've decided," the Sitri heiress declared, regaining their attention. "I'm afraid we will have to refuse your oh so generous offer."

Valper sighed in disappointment. "So be it then. Freed."

"YAYYYYYYY! Murder and skullfuckings for everybody!" With childlike glee, the madman raised the misshapen abomination that the Excalibur pieces had become and brought it down again. A fresh wave of destructive force launched from the uneven blade, streaking toward the barrier.

The barrier that dropped just as the sword came down. Instead, standing in the path of the blast was Sona's Queen. Tsubaki held her arms up, pointed toward the sky, before she spread them outward and down. "Mirror Alice!"

The attack meant to destroy the barrier, instead struck an ornate mirror that absorbed the attack, an instant before that attack was returned. With twice the ferocity. Digging furrows into the road as it tore toward Freed.

"YIPE!"

-(-)-

What had once been flashes in the sky had become streaks of light. A battle so frenetic and explosive it was more like a storm had rolled in on a cloudy day. Each clash a crash of thunder. The occasional bolt of ball lighting that shook the world if it crashed to the ground.

BOOM.

"More! MORE!"

"Would you just shut up and fight?!" Kallen demanded with the newest clash.

"DIVIDE!"

A split second in which her power had been halved again. Vali tried to take advantage of being twice her strength, twice her speed–

"BOOST!"

But his spinning kick found only air as she charged another shot, as she backed away. His burning wings folded inward as he dove to avoid it, swooping down and fanning them out again as he screamed back up to her past the bolt of energy. He saw the claw waiting for him and broke off his assault.

"Dammit, what's the point of something that can end this in one shot if I can't even hit him with it?!"

Ddraig grunted. "He's got good instincts. I can respect that."

Kallen watched her opponent as he soared across their battlefield, circling her. Observing her. But also... "Okay he keeps doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Looking away. He's looking for something."

"Do you think he's expecting reinforcements?" Ddraig asked. "Or he said he was supposed to do something else than fight you. Maybe it's that."

"... I know what it is. Kozuki, I'll need your help."

"Kind of busy here," her counterpart grunted. "Do you want this thing to work or not?!"

"He's distracted looking for you!" Stadtfeld told her. "He studied us, that means he saw the duplicate magic. This whole time he's been keeping his eye out for someone to ambush him! What if we give him that ambush?!"

"You know I can't."

That was the choice they had to make, the choice they made at the start of the fight. They could create a duplicate, a second body for the other mind to inhabit. Both with their innate power, though only one could wield the Boosted Gear at a time, decided when the duplicate was made. It had taken eighteen months to create the duplicate magic. Another six to transfer Boosted Gear to it temporarily. As they had proven in the rating game, it was a very useful magic.

But, both of them together, that allowed for something very different.

Kallen Stadtfeld was a fighter. Had been her entire life. Personal combat was what she knew best. Boosted Gear was hers and it was effective on its own. However, Kallen Kozuki added an entirely different dimension to its capabilities. Devil magic was all about imagination. The ability to focus on willing your desires into reality. Her experiences contained something very similar to the Red Dragon Scale Mail. A machine she knew like it was her own body. Her pride and joy. It was a machine she had been born to pilot, much like Kallen Stadtfeld had been born to carry the Boosted Gear.

And because she knew it so well, she was able to replicate it. Replicate its capabilities and incorporate them into the Scale Mail. The resplendent magenta wings. The deadly claw. A dozen little ways to enhance the performance of something so near to her beloved Guren. Kallen Kozuki understood them, and so she could replicate them. Using their shared demonic power, she made her dreams into a reality, focusing her attention on keeping that dream intact. So long as she was focused on that, they were far more than the sum of their parts.

But if her focus slipped... "You better be ready to adjust."

"It doesn't have to be real, just give me an opening."

"... Fine."

Another clash. A kick she ducked under, countered with a punch–

"DIVIDE!"

"BOOST!"

"Ranged, now."

She backed off, charging another shot, raising her left arm, firing. He dodged again, much easier than before due to them being at similar power.

"Hey jackass!"

He turned, seeing a second Red Dragon Empress behind him. "I knew it!" The double rushed him, moving without any of the cautious defense of the original as she approached. Instead she telegraphed a haymaker without an ounce of hesitation. Vali raised his arms to block it, only for the image to pass right through him. "What?!"

"BOOST!"

A dangerous gambit. Kallen's already waning stamina would not be helped by taxing her limit like this. But it gave her the speed to grab hold of him with the claw for the first time in the fight, taking hold of the back plates of the armour. "NOW!"

"I'm working on it!"

The claw crackled to life, a malevolent red energy coursing over it, travelling into the white armour of her opponent.

"Ah–! AHHHHH!" The White Dragon Emperor screamed as he felt the corrosive energy course through him. He fought. He struggled. But now that she had him, she had no intention of letting go. She finally landed her trump card.

Naturally, that meant it was time to play his.

"HALF DIMENSION!"

She didn't know what he was doing, save for that he had halved her power again. Something she wouldn't complain about, yet at the same time it somehow caused her to lose grip, especially as he swung his body around, effectively throwing her off.

The moment he was free, he backed off hard. "Aha, ahaha!" The laughter was pained. Naturally. What the Radiant Wave Surger did wasn't pleasant and Kozuki created an effect as similar as she could manage. "Not bad. That's enough for today. We can call this a draw."

"A draw? When you're the one looking to leg it? I think you'll find that's called losing, mate."

"Ha, haha, you can go on thinking that," he responded somewhat enigmatically. "Good luck with Kokabiel, you'll need it."

"Who?"

He didn't care to answer. Instead, he turned tail and flew off as fast as his burning wings could carry him. She was tempted to chase him... But even if she wanted to keep going, there was only so long she could keep it up herself. And she had other things to worry about.

"RESET!"

Kallen breathed a sigh of relief now that the strain of firing on all cylinders was gone. Back to her ordinary level of strength, which was not the same as getting a rest, but there was no time for a rest. She did what she promised and dealt with her situation. Now it was time to do her real job.

-(-)-

A/N: This chapter seen very early by my generous supporters on THE GREAT FORBIDDEN P! FEAR THE P! LOVE THE P!